$2 million bond set for Studer on nude-photo charges

Scott Studer, the Jackson High School head freshman basketball coach and school district building aide, was arraigned this morning in Municipal Court on six felony counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.

The Repository

Writer

Posted Nov. 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 15, 2012 at 3:14 PM

Posted Nov. 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 15, 2012 at 3:14 PM

MASSILLON

A former Jackson High assistant basketball coach who allegedly placed cameras in the boys locker room to record showering players remains jailed in lieu of $2 million bond.

Dressed in an orange jail jump suit, Scott D. Studer, 46, did not address the court during his arraignment Thursday in Massillon Municipal Court. Studer appeared in court with his attorney, James Haupt. Judge Roland Centrone formally read the six felony counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material filed Wednesday against Studer.

Studer would be required to post 10 percent, or $200,000, of the bond amount. If he is released, Studer would be required to serve electronically-monitored house arrest. Studer also would be barred from having contact with Jackson High and any males under the age of 18. If convicted, Studer faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and a $15,000 fine on each count.

Centrone ordered Studer to appear for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m., Nov. 21. The preliminary hearing will determine whether there is probable cause to send the case to a county grand jury for a possible criminal indictment.

Studer resigned Wednesday after more than two decades on the Jackson basketball coaching staff. He had been a fixture on the varsity bench during that time. Studer also served as a building aide in the high school.

“At this time we are maintaining his innocence in this particular case,” Haupt said. “It is too early on to say much. ... These are just mere allegations. They are brand new. We don’t know any of the details yet.”

Haupt added Studer’s family and friends are “sticking behind him.”

Studer’s home at 5141 Pin Oak Dr. NW was searched by the U.S. Postal Service early Wednesday morning. Images of nude boys were found on a DVD, a laptop computer and flash drive, according to court records.

Jackson police and school officials only learned of the images after the Postal Service executed the search warrant. Federal inspectors contacted police around 5:30 p.m. and requested assistance in executing the warrant to enter Studer’s home at 6:15 a.m.

“Until (Jackson police) went to do this, they did not know they were dealing with a local case,” said Chryssa Hartnett, assistant county prosecutor. “The postal investigation is what brought them to the house. What was found at Jackson (High School) was independent of what happened (at Studer’s home). They had no knowledge of the camera. This all came out (Wednesday).”

It appears both state and federal charges will be pursued against Studer. There has been no discussion of merging the local and federal cases.

“At this point, they are separate investigations,” Hartnett said.

The local charges could remain or be modified following the completion of the Jackson police investigation, according to Hartnett.

Page 2 of 2 -
“All I can say is the investigation is ongoing and it will be thorough,” Hartnett said. “... The time frame could be very quick but that’s not a comment on the scope of the investigation.”

No federal charges have been filed against Studer. The warrant is suspected to be related to child pornography but U.S. Postal Inspector Terry Sullivan could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.

Michael Tobin, spokesman for the U.S. District Attorney’s Office, referred questions regarding the probe to the Postal Service.

“It’s not our case at this point. We can’t comment unless there are charges filed,” Tobin said.